A solution: genetically modified crops
I can assess the advantages and challenges of genetically modified crops in tackling global food issues and environmental pressures.
- Year 9
A solution: genetically modified crops
I can assess the advantages and challenges of genetically modified crops in tackling global food issues and environmental pressures.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- GM crops are plants whose genes have been altered in a lab to give them improved traits.
- GM crops offer higher yields, pest resistance, nutrition, climate resilience, longer shelf-life, and lower costs.
- Bt maize improved food security and income for many rural communities.
- Concerns include breeding super weeds, long term health issues, resistant pests and big businesses control.
- Bollworms developed resistance to Bt cotton in India.
Keywords
GM crops - plants whose genes have been altered in a lab to give them improved traits
Yield - the amount produced, especially in farming
Pesticide - substances that are added to soil or sprayed on plants to protect the plants from pests such as insects
Herbicide - substances that are added to soil or sprayed on plants to protect the plants from weeds
Common misconception
All the tests run on GM crops have found that they create no health issues.
Most major scientific bodies find no conclusive evidence of harm from approved GM foods, which have all been tested. However, some animal studies raise questions, and critics argue that long-term human studies are limited.
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords with their meanings:
Q2.Which of these is a renewable resource?
Q3.Which of the following is not a natural resource?
Q4.What does 'sustainable use of resources' mean?
Q5.Resources that can be replaced naturally are called .
Q6.Which country uses the most energy per person?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match each keyword with the correct short definition:
